What beautiful animals, and I am glad they will not spend their final days in slaughterhouses, being butchered and horrified.
I'm shocked that the government is willing to spend this money. I would much rather the $550 a month the government takes from my modest paycheck go to horses instead of straight to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, or the pockets of warmongers.
I'm comforted to know that kindness towards animals still exists here. Thanks, Marty.
-Marisa

Listen to the figures; 32k animals on open range and 32k in govt. corrals with a cost of millions in tax payer money to maintain them. The situation is going to get worse because feral horses will increase by thousands a year if their numbers are not reduced by capturing them, but the give away program is not working. This simple arithmetic offers the only rational answer, euthanasia. As hard as it may be; we must find the courage to do what is right.

Since the horse slaughter ban there has been a crash in the horse market.

Now with the slipping economy and increased feed prices the situation is getting worse.

I have a soft spot for all mustangs because my horse is an adopted Nevada Mustang, he's the best horse I have ever owned.

I was introduced to Mustangs by Jake, a non descript, small, black gelding, bought from a ranch in montana by his current owner. He was the best trail horse I had ever seen and could do ranch work as good as any Quarter Horse. He and his owner shared a bond I could never imagine was possible until I adopted my own Mustang.
I have since met a few more adopters who know the these animals are special and unique. There are not many Mustang enthusiasts among horse owners, but the few who have discovered these horses are devoted afficianados of these wonderful horses.

There is a better way to manage the populations. It wouldn't solve the problem completely, but it would help manage the herds way better than the current plan.

If BLM would focus on removing mainly females, the population growth could be squelched. It also seems to me that females are easier to adopt out, the local holding facility where I go will be full of both males and females after gathering, but soon the mare/filly pens are depleted of animals while the colt/gelding pens are still relativly full of animals.

It wouldn't solve the whole problem, but it would be a better management plan than what is in place now.